Cobourg Mayor is clearly fed-up after waking up on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 to find his vehicle had been broken into and items stolen.
Ironically, he found one of the stolen items at The Warming Hub/310 Division Street.
After coming home from work around 1 a.m. only to get up five hours later to go back to work, he found the window to his vehicle had been jimmied and a number of items taken.
“It’s my fault I guess,” said Cleveland speaking to Today’s Northumberland from his office at Victoria Hall.
“I left my car locked in my driveway and once again my car was broken into.”
It’s the second time since the beginning of April someone has broken into his vehicle by smashing his window.
After a long day at work, he admits he just forgot the items in his vehicle.
“I assumed that I didn’t need to bring my belongings in. So, I own that myself.”
Among the items stolen were his town laptop, frisbee disc golf bag (worth approximately $700), wallet and cell phone.
“It’s my mistake for leaving it in the car in this community.”
Shortly after his County meeting on Tuesday morning, Cleveland went directly to 310 Division Street/The Warming Hub where he discovered his town laptop.
“Because I didn’t have a chance to fill out the police report, I had the idea, “I wonder if my stuff is at The Warming Room?”
“I drove to The Warming Room, I went in the door, I saw my (computer) bag sitting on a desk and I asked staff how did my belongings get here?”
Staff informed Cleveland he wouldn’t be able to get the security video, but police would be able to view the video.
Cleveland took back his laptop and immediately went to the Cobourg Police Station to report the theft.
Cleveland said it’s “unfortunate,” but he doesn’t hold staff at Transition House or the Executive Director Ike Nwibe accountable for what took place.
“These individuals who work for Transition House are trying to do the best job they can. They are being tasked with a job that is a difficult one.”
They (staff and Executive Director Ike Nwibe) are exceptionally dedicated individuals.”
“They can’t be held accountable for the criminal activity of the residents who stay there.”
Cleveland also has high praise for the men and women of the Cobourg Police Service.
“The problem we have is we don’t have a solution for the criminal activity going on in our community.”
“Our police who do a fantastic job are being hamstrung by federal mandates and the legal system. I have the utmost faith in CPS (Cobourg Police Service). This is not something that’s Cobourg central. Police services across this province are not able to do the job that the community needs them to do because of the way people are being released and because of the lack of punishment for committing crimes.”
Police must be frustrated when they commit themselves to a profession, “to protect and to serve and then to be prevented from doing that.”
Cleveland said he doesn’t have a solution, but adamantly states, “the staff at Transition House are not to be blamed the fact that criminals are stealing belongs and hiding them at 310.”
Clearly frustrated, Cleveland said his business has been broken into several times over the past few months losing up to $25,000 and having his vehicle window smashed numerous times.
“I’m sick and tired of being told by fellow mayors around this (Northumberland) County that there isn’t a problem in this community.”
“I’m tired of hearing report after report at the County that everything is fine – it’s not.”
“Everything is not fine here in Cobourg and at the end of the day something has to be done about it.”
At this point, Cleveland said he can no longer afford to have his store being broken into numerous times.
“Yesterday, I was cleaning up human feces in my basement again. Because they smashed the lock off of the back of the door, to break-in, to smoke drugs and to go to the bathroom in the basement. This is the reality of trying to run a business in this town. I’m not sure where the solution is, but I know it’s getting pretty frustrating.”
“It’s not just me – this community is incredibly frustrated.”
At County Council, Cleveland said he has brought up specific questions concerning homeless, drug abuse and crime on the streets of Cobourg.
“And me being told I’m making it up or it’s just some trivial this or trivial that. At the end of the day, the reality is this community is sick and tired of being told that we don’t know what’s going on, on our own streets.”
After having Transition House located at 10 Chapel Street for a number of years, Cleveland doesn’t accept the excuse by County Council that it’s to expensive to diversify social services to not only just Cobourg.
“Everyone was ok with a single, four-bedroom house acting as a shelter in Cobourg for ten years.”
“Why is it not acceptable for Brighton, Port Hope and Trent Hills to have a four-bedroom house so that vulnerable individuals in their community can receive the treatment, shelter and care they deserve within their communities?”
“If it was ok in Cobourg for 10 years, why is it no longer ok everywhere else?”
Cleveland adamantly states he doesn’t believe 310 Division Street should be shut down, but does add that he thinks it should be a high barrier and that it should stop allowing people with severe addictions to come in and out of the building while over people who are recovering living in the facility.
“They are being faced every single day with the very vices they are trying to give up.”
Cleveland said he will continue to advocate for change and looks forward to the Town Hall meeting where Cobourg residents can share their frustrations.
“I look forward to holding my fellow mayors at the County to account for this belief that they have that there is no problems here in Cobourg.”
Cleveland said that whoever stole his laptop tried to turn it on between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. but couldn’t because of security features.
“At this point I’m numb to it. My vehicle has been damaged five times in the last two-and-a-half years since I’ve been Mayor.”
It’s come to the point where Cleveland isn’t getting his vehicle repaired stating he’ll wait to the lease is up, then get it repaired.
“I’m now listing my business for sale, because I’m hoping The Market (& Smor) can continue on separate from me. Maybe if I’m not the one owning The Market, they’ll stop targeting it.”
“It’s my hope by selling the thing that I’ve invested my life savings, my time and my families dedication is that we can hopefully have The Market continue on.”
“Maybe if I’m not associated with it the break-ins will stop, maybe if I’m not associated with it the individuals who are facing difficulties now will stop coming into the store threatening my staff and doing drugs in my bathroom.”
Cleveland firmly states, “I’m not going to give in and quit which is what a lot of people want. I think what’s happening is they are trying to make my life a certain way – so that I will resign. But the truth is, all this is doing is building resilience and commitment that we need to continue on the path to make changes for our community.”
“I can’t leave my truck alone in parking lot for four hours without people smashing windows and stealing my stuff – and I’m the Mayor of this community. So I can’t imagine what the citizens of this community are experiencing every single day.”
Cleveland assures the residents of Cobourg, that he will continue to do what is necessary to ensure the safety and security of all residents.
His wallet, cell phone and frisbee disc golf bag are still missing.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
